Faculty Disclosures

Dr Agarwal is a Pediatric Anesthesiologist who went to medical school and completed her anesthesia residency at Baylor College of Medicine, with a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Denver Children's Hospital. Her interests include pediatric pain management, regional anesthesia, ambulatory anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, anesthetic effects on the developing brain, pain and anesthesia management in children who misuse substance, and medical education advocacy, mentorship and sponsorship. She was the Pediatric Anesthesia Program Director at the University of Colorado for 18 years She has served as the Editor for the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Newsletter, Communication Chair and member of the Board of Directors of the SPA. She has been Chair for the American Academy of Pediatrics: Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Management, and President of the Society of Pediatric Pain Management. She continued to be very active with SPPM and is the Co-Editor for the Question and Poll of the Month. She has completed a certificate program in health care leadership and in evidence based coaching and is working on becoming and International Federation of Coaching accredited Coach. She is passionate about advocacy for safer care for patients undergoing dental anesthesia, and appropriate pain management for all children,

Dr. Vipin Bansal is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. He studied engineering at Cornell University and completed his anesthesiology residency and fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He did his first TAP block in a pediatric patient back in 2007 as fellow at CCF and has been in love with nerve blocks since then. His main clinical focus is utilizing nerve blocks in pediatric perioperative care to keep kids comfortable in the OR as well as the floor. For his efforts, he has won numerous awards such as the distinguished Humanitarian Award by his hospital, TOP DOCTOR by Atlanta Magazine, and even Palliative Care Champion by his children’s hospital. He has pioneered the use of peripheral nerve neuromodulation to control phantom pain in an amputation patient and this work was featured in Today.com and Atlanta-Journal Constitution (AJC). He is looking for new ways to teach students at workshops, even using AI and VR. He now wants your help to develop a free online handbook for trainees and professionals, with all the components of pediatric pain from different nerve blocks, dosing of pediatric spinals and epidurals, to the mechanism and dosing of different pain medications as well as coagulation issues specifically for peds.

Dr. Danette Beitra is a board-certified Pediatric Psychologist who specializes in working with children with pain and complex medical conditions at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, FL. Prior to joining Nemours in 2022, she developed and lead multidisciplinary clinics and the consultation liaison service at several children’s hospitals. She is currently the Director of Programmatic Development for behavioral health and co-leads a Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program for children and adolescents. Dr. Beitra completed her internship training at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX prior to pursuing a fellowship with emphasis in pediatric health at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, TX. Dr. Beitra’s primary clinical interests include adjustment, coping, quality of life, and resilience in response to chronic pain and life-threatening diagnoses. Dr. Beitra maintains active teaching, supervisory, program development, and research initiatives. Her research interests include measurement and evaluating the effectiveness of programs that foster collaborations between psychologists and the medical team. She is currently involved in a multi-site NIH study evaluating the ethical, legal, and social implications impacting family decision-making in donating pediatric tissue samples. Dr. Beitra is also involved in numerous quality improvement and research projects aimed at training medical residents and psychology graduate students in preventative behavioral health care models. On a personal note, Dr. Beitra enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and traveling.

Katherine Bentley is an assistant professor at Rutgers Medical School. She is the section chief of physiatry at Children's Specialized Hospital. She is the director of the pediatric chronic pain management program.

Dr. Rashmi Bhandari joined the Pediatric Pain Management Clinic and Stanford faculty in 2005 and has since been working with children and their families who are struggling with chronic pain conditions, offering behavioral health treatments. She is the Director of Psychology Services for the Pediatric Pain Clinic and a committed clinician, educator, and researcher with a focus on assessment and development of treatment interventions to improve the lives of youth with chronic pain. Dr. Bhandari, has successfully lead the Pediatric Pain Clinic in multiple clinical innovations including tele-medicine, and group interventions to continue offering evidence based treatments and improving access to care. Dr. Bhandari utilizes evidence based treatments in her work including cognitive behavioral therapy to treat pain, biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, and SPACE treatments for parents to foster children's functional recovery (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions).

I am a proud member of the Department of Anesthesiology at The University of Colorado School of Medicine and I work at Children's Hospital Colorado where I am the director of the Pain Services, and a co-director of our Wellness Program. Simply put, I am a full time anesthesiologist and blessed with a great team!

Talitha is an occupational therapist with 20 years of experience at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Specializing in care for children with rheumatic diseases, her passion for this area of practice and the people affected led to growing involvement in the rheumatology community. As a patient educator and advocate, she served kids and their families by volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation and Scleroderma Foundation. To improve the skills and resources for other professionals who serve these kids and families, she volunteers for the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP), and is currently serving on the ARP Membership and Nominations Committee. Because pain plays a role in rheumatology and many kids’ lives, she also helped develop the Pain Rehabilitation program at CHLA where many kids with chronic pain learn how to live their best lives. Talitha is continually learning and sharing information about these much-needed areas of practice.

Dr. Amber Borucki is an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist whose focus is chronic pain management in children and adolescents/young adults and reducing or managing pain from chronic conditions or pain that occurs after surgery. Dr. Borucki completed her medical degree at Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL. She attended anesthesia residency at the University of Chicago. She completed a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Boston Children's Hospital as well as a combined adult/pediatric pain medicine fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham Women's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Borucki worked for one year in private practice in anesthesiology in Reno, Nevada. Dr. Borucki then began her 5-year tenure at UCSF as a pediatric anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist and was the Director of the Pediatric Anesthesia Service at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. She is now a pediatric pain physician and anesthesiologist at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. She is the Education Director for Pediatric Pain Medicine. Notable accomplishments at UCSF include developing and co-chairing the UCSF Benioff Transbay Pediatric Pain Management Committee, serving on the Bridge to One Bay project to standardize pain care across all UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital locations, and assisting ChildKind designation (a prestigious designation for a hospital indicating that it prioritizes pediatric pain care). Dr. Borucki is a member of the medical advisory council for the Make a Wish Bay Area chapter. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (SPPM) and also will be the program director for the upcoming 12th annual SPPM meeting. Dr. Borucki has also served on several committees through the American Society of Anesthesiologists and California Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Borucki served as an editorial board member for Paediatric and Neonatal Pain.

Stanley E. Brewer, D.O. is currently an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Brewer completed his Bachelor’s Degree in psychology at Arizona State University, concurrently earning an Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s with emphasis in Religion and Korean studies. He then went on to receive his medical degree from A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona and completed combined training in Pediatrics, General Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Indiana University. Currently, Dr. Brewer works as a child psychiatrist and general pediatrician at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Brewer’s clinical interests are in chronic medical illness, pain and functional disorders, and collaborative/integrated care with pediatric subspecialists.

Dr. Megan Brockel received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, completed anesthesiology residency at Washington University in Saint Louis, and completed pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital. She is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado. Her clinical and research interests include pediatric enhanced recovery after surgery and she has co-led these efforts at her institution for the past 10 years. She has served on the executive board of ERAS Society Pediatrics since 2018 and is currently the president-elect of the Society.

Education and pain specialization.

Dr. Veronica P. Carullo is a quintuple-board-certified physician specializing in pediatric anesthesiology and pediatric pain management and palliative care. She has founded and led pediatric pain management programs at multiple institutions, including Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY; Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, NY; Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, NY; and Children’s of Mississippi in Jackson, MS. As an educator, she also served as the fellowship director for pediatric anesthesiology at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and has held various academic and leadership roles that reflect her dedication to advancing pediatric care. Dr. Carullo is a respected leader in her field, actively contributing to organizations such as the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Association of University Anesthesiologists, and the Academy of Anesthesiology. She has also been an active member of the Women's Empowerment and Leadership Initiative since 2022 and serves as an Examiner for the Applied Examination of the American Board of Anesthesiology, underscoring her commitment to excellence in the profession. Motivated by a philosophy of continuous growth, Dr. Carullo earned an MBA from Millsaps College in 2024 followed by a professional coaching certification through Erickson International. She recently founded Carullo Consulting, PLLC, a firm dedicated to delivering impactful consulting and coaching solutions. Alongside her entrepreneurial pursuits, she continues to provide pediatric anesthesiology care as a locum tenens physician, ensuring her hands-on expertise remains sharp and relevant. A passionate advocate for pediatric pain management and palliative care, Dr. Carullo is dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families. Through her clinical, academic, and consulting work, her goal is to continue to champion innovative approaches that prioritize compassionate, patient- and family-centered care.

Physician-scientist, pain management, Professor

Dr. Laura Chin, MD MPH, is an anesthesiologist at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Chin worked as an anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital holding the rank of assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also served as Assistant Director of Ambulatory Regional Anesthesia and Associate Program Director of the ACGME regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine fellowship program. She has served as a formal mentor for fellows in the pediatric anesthesiology fellowship scholarship initiative and directed the annual anatomy and ultrasound workshops for the anesthesia residency program. Dr. Chin received her masters in public health from the University of Hong Kong supported by a Rotary International Ambassadorial Fellowship, and her medical degree from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She completed her anesthesiology residency at Yale University, a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Children’s National Medical System and a fellowship in regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the USA. Dr. Chin has lectured on regional anesthesia techniques at workshops nationwide and internationally.

I am fully aware of the fact that a quick look at my CV may confuse the lack of a single theme throughout my career. However, I have always been interested in improving the quality of care we provide to patients since I was a medical student, and I never accepted the status quo. I spent years in the laboratory to better understand the pathophysiology of several diseases. Since I have become an anesthesiologist, I have focused on pain management. This aspect of our care has often been overlooked or summarily managed. Chronic pain in children is a relatively common problem that can lead to months or years of loss of function as well as medication abuse. As a pediatric anesthesiologist and an acute and chronic pain practitioner, I always struggle to identify possible short- and long-term outcomes after complex operations in children.

Genevieve D'souza, MD FASA is the Clinical Director of Pediatric Pain Management at Stanford Medicine Children's Health and is the Director of the Pediatric Anesthesia Resource Center. Dr D'souza is also a clinical professor at Department of Anesthesia, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. D'souza is a board-certified Pediatric Anesthesiologist, she has completed a Pediatric Pain Fellowship and also certified in Acupuncture. Her research includes work in Pediatric Erythromelalgia, CRPS, interventions etc. In her free time, she loves to travel especially exploring new places.

My clinical work, research, and teaching focuses on Multidisciplinary pain management with a special emphasis on minimally invasive interventional pain techniques in both children and adults. I direct the Pediatric Interventional Pain Program at Boston Children's Hospital and run its outcomes research projects. I am an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the Harvard Medical School. My background includes training in Neurology / Child Neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Pain Medicine at the Harvard Combined Pain Fellowship through the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. I have a Master’s in business administration (M.B.A) through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) Sloan School of Management.

Robert Scott Dingeman, MD, MEd, FAAP, FASA is an assistant professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. His areas of clinical expertise are pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric regional anesthesiology and pediatric pain management. Dr. Dingeman received his undergraduate degree in psychobiology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. He returned to his home state of Michigan where he earned his M.D. from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in East Lansing and Grand Rapids. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, and subsequently finished his pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Dingeman has a strong interest in medical education and is the former program director of the Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is currently finishing his Master of Education in the Health Professions at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Dr. Dingeman’s clinical research has focused on the use of regional anesthesiology techniques to reduce opioid consumption in children undergoing surgery. His recent research interests focus on using these same techniques to improve the quality of life in children living with life-threatening illnesses. Among his many professional activities, Dr. Dingeman serves on the board of directors for the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine, and he was the program chair for the society’s 2018 annual meeting. He is an active member of a number of professional organizations including the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, and the International Association for the Study of Pain’s Special Interest Group on Pain in Childhood. Dr. Dingeman also serves on an international multidisciplinary consortium of experts who are creating global guidelines for supportive care in childhood oncology.

Roger B. Fillingim, PhD is a Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of Planning & Institutional Effectiveness in the University of Florida (UF) College of Dentistry, and he is Director of the UF Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence. His research investigates biological and psychosocial contributions to individual differences in pain and its treatment. Dr. Fillingim’s research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1994, including a current MERIT award from the National Institute on Aging. He has published more than 480 peer-reviewed papers and has delivered plenary and keynote addresses at numerous international conferences. Dr. Fillingim also has served in national leadership positions, including a term as President of the American Pain Society (APS) from 2012-14, and he currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the International Mentoring Association. He has received numerous awards, including the Wilbert E. Fordyce, Clinical Investigator Award and the Distinguished Service Award, both from the American Pain Society. He was also awarded a University of Florida Foundation Preeminence Term Professorship in 2019, and he was inducted into the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida in 2024.

Dr. Will Frye is a pediatric pain psychologist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and is board certified in child and adolescent psychology, as well as biofeedback. He specializes in non-pharmacological treatment for patients with chronic pain and complex medical conditions and provides skill-based interventions for psychosocial concerns. Dr. Frye provides clinical care to patients at JHACH through the interdisciplinary chronic pain and autonomic dysfunction clinics, inpatient consultation, outpatient psychology services, and the intensive inpatient Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Rehab Program. He also leads Camp Wellness at JHACH, which is an outpatient half-day pain management program. Dr. Frye’s research interests include the experience of patients living with chronic illness, quality of life, and non-pharmacological management of symptoms.

Dr. Golianu specializes in pediatric pain management and integrative medicine

Dr. Cheryl Hartzell is a pediatric anesthesiologist and chronic and interventional pain physician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor at University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. She completed both pediatric anesthesia and pediatric pain medicine fellowships at Cincinnati Children’s. Her clinical passion includes forming partnerships with surgical specialties to identify patients who have chronic pain and functional disability and may be surgical candidates, engaging them early in the evaluation process with the multidisciplinary pain approach to optimize perioperative and functional outcomes. She has led the collaboration to form the Thoracic Outlet Multidisciplinary Clinic at Cincinnati Children's, developing novel pain interventional procedures in the pediatric population to prevent surgical need and improve functional outcomes. She works with the CCHMC Pancreas Care Center as one of the pain physicians evaluating patients with recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. She is also one of the lead investigators with the Pancreas Care Center examining pain and quality of life outcomes following Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto-transplantation. Her other research interests include utilizing mindfulness techniques in the perioperative population to improve post-operative functional outcomes, in which she was awarded the SPA Young Investigator Award. Being from Wisconsin, she is a die-hard Packers fan (even though she married a Chicago Bears fan), and an avid ultra-endurance cyclist.

Stephen Robert Hays, MS, MD, FAAP (he/they) is Professor of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine and Pediatrics at University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (URSMD), Director of Resident Scholarship and Associate Vice-Chair for Faculty Development in the URSMD Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, and Director of Pediatric Pain Medicine at University of Rochester Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital. A native of Syracuse, NY and Presidential Scholar, Dr. Hays earned simultaneous B.S. / M.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry summa cum laude with Distinction in the Major from Yale University, New Haven, CT where they were elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. They earned their M.D. from The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD where they remained for Internship & Residency in Pediatrics, Residency in Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, and Fellowships in Pediatric Anesthesia & Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Hays is Board-Certified in Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Hospice & Palliative Medicine, and Pediatric Anesthesiology. Dr. Hays was appointed Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology & Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN in 1999, and promoted to Associate Professor in 2006. They developed the Vanderbilt Pediatric Pain Service and subsequently the Vanderbilt Pediatric Pain Clinic, and served as Director of Pediatric Pain Services at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt (MCJCHV). Dr. Hays received a 2004-2005 Vanderbilt Department of Anesthesiology Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as the 2011 Sandidge Pediatric Pain Management Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contributions to Pediatric Pain Management at MCJCHV. Dr. Hays moved to the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA as Clinical Professor of Anesthesia & Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Pain Services at University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital in 2019, and served as Vice-Chair for Faculty Affairs & Development in the Department of Anesthesia of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. They moved to URSMD in 2024. Dr. Hays is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and a member of the AAP including its Sections on Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine (SOAPM), Critical Care Medicine, and Hospice & Palliative Medicine (SOHPM). They serve on the AAP SOHPM Membership & Internal Communications Work Group, and have served on the AAP SOAPM Executive Committee. They are a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and have served on the ASA Committees on Pediatric Anesthesiology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. A Full Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), they serve on the ABA Objective Standardized Clinical Examination Committee and as the ABA representative to the American Board of Internal Medicine Hospice & Palliative Medicine Advisory Committee, and have served on the ABA Standardized Oral Exam (SOE) Committee. Dr. Hays is a member of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA), and was in 2025 was elected President of the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (SPPM), having previously served on the SPPM Board of Directors and then as SPPM Secretary-Treasurer and then Vice President. Dr. Hays' clinical practice focuses on perioperative care of children of all ages, with particular interests in pediatric regional anesthesia, pediatric pain management, and pediatric palliative care. Their clinical time is divided among the pediatric operating room, the inpatient pediatric pain & palliative care services, and various pediatric outpatient clinics. Their research interests have included industry-funded pharmaceutical licensing studies of analgesic agents in children, as well as multi-institutional studies of potential pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity. Dr. Hays regularly presents at local, regional, and national meetings, and has been a named author on numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts, textbook chapters, and online enduring educational content. Dr. Hays and their wife Deborah have two adult sons.

Alyson Hermé is a Pediatric Psychologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Anesthesiology in the Division of Pain and Palliative Medicine. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Loma Linda University. She specializes in treating a variety of chronic pain patients across several domains including inpatient, inpatient rehabilitation programs, outpatient pain clinic, and pain focused psychotherapy. She works alongside medical providers conducting evaluations for patients with pediatric chronic pain (initial assessments as well as follow up appointments). She also providers pain focused psychotherapy to patients. She provides psychological consultations for inpatient’s who are having a difficult time managing pain as part of the Inpatient Pain Medicine Service. Consultations can include hospitalized chronic pain patients experiencing acute on chronic pain, post-surgical patients having a difficult time managing pain, as well as patients presenting with new onset pain. Additionally, she is also a member of the Inpatient Pain Rehabilitation team and acts as a primary therapist for patients engaged in the program. Through her work across various settings Dr. Hermé has been able to garner a knowledge of what barriers can impact engaging in treatment recommendations across levels of care. Dr. Herme’s research interests include pediatric pain, chronic illness, anxiety, disordered eating, evidence-based treatments, and health disparities.

Kendra J. Homan, Ph.D. is a pediatric clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of pediatric chronic pain and the association between pediatric chronic pain and comorbid disordered eating. Dr. Homan is the Clinical Director of the Functional Independence Restoration Program (FIRST), an inpatient chronic pain rehabilitation program. Her research agenda focuses on the psychosocial functioning of patients presenting for intensive interdisci-plinary pain treatment, identifying variables that impact the trajectory of change after pain treatment, parenting practices in pediatric chronic pain, and the impact of disordered eating on outcome among pediatric patients with chronic pain.

Dr. Hunsberger is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins University who specializes in pediatric acute pain management and pediatric palliative care.

Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University. Program Director for the Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship, overseeing curriculum development, trainee mentorship, and program quality. Her clinical and research expertise includes pediatric anesthesia, regional anesthesia, pediatric pain management, and simulation-based education. As site lead for undergraduate anesthesia education at McMaster Children’s Hospital, Dr. Jaramillo is engaged in teaching across multiple levels of training.

Dr. Joseph is the Director of Physical Therapy at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland school of medicine Physical Therapy and rehabilitation science program (PTRS). He received his masters in physical therapy from Thomas Jefferson University and his doctorate from Acardia University. He has 31 year of clinical pediatric experience in a variety of service delivery systems. His current area of care concentrates on children and adults with rare disorders with a specialty in Connective disorders with a focus in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). He co-authored a book chapter on the rehabilitative care for adults with OI and has is a team member participating in the natural history study through the osteogenesis imperfecta foundation. He is the primary physical therapists in the pediatric pain and functional neurological symptom disorder clinic at Kennedy Krieger, where he uses his expertise in connective tissue disorders and sensory modulation disorders to help the patients get the services and delivery model that they need to improve their function.

Dr. Michelle Kars is the Chief of Pediatric Anesthesiology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Northwell Health in New York. She completed her training in both pediatrics and anesthesiology at New York Presbyterian Weill-Cornell in New York, followed by a fellowship in pediatric anesthesia at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kars is also the Director of the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Service at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. She is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell where she currently serves as the program director for the pediatric anesthesia fellowship. Dr. Kars clinical and research interests include pediatric regional anesthesia, pain management, and pediatric point-of-care ultrasound. She currently serves on the editorial board for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine journal and is the chair of the pediatric SIG for ASRAPM. Dr. Kars is the program chair for the 2024 SPPM annual meeting.

Sabina Khan, MD completed her Anesthesiology Residency at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas followed by Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship at UT Houston/ McGovern Medical School. After serving as a faculty member at UT for 4 years, she worked for 2 years at the only Children's Hospital in the UAE before returning to UT as an Assistant Professor in 2021. Currently, Dr. Khan is the Program Director of the Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship Program and is an active member of the Anesthesiology Perioperative Excellence Grand Rounds planning committee. She also serves as a co-chair on the Culture, Accountability and Outreach Sub-Committee. Dr. Khan is passionate about promoting an inclusive and safe environment where everyone is treated fairly and has equal access to opportunities. Apart from her clinical interests in fellow education, workshops, patient safety and quality improvement projects, Dr. Khan is also involved in collaboration between institutions for various educational projects and community outreach initiatives aimed at teaching high school students about healthcare opportunities. Outside of work, Dr. Khan enjoys exploring Houston's diverse cuisine scene, traveling, and spending time with her family. She lives by the motto "Together Everyone Achieves More" (TEAM).

Dr. Eugene Kim completed his Anesthesia residency at Stony Brook Medicine in New York and Pain Medicine fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He then went on to a second fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesia at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he currently serves as Division Chief of Pain Medicine.

Dr. Jamie Kitzman is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics in Emory University. She is the Medical Director of the Preoperative Clinic and Pediatric Anesthesiologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). She is the Co-Director of the Medical Acupuncture Service at CHOA. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine. She has lectured nationally on Preoperative preparation of pediatric patients, Substance use disorders in the perioperative setting, and Non-pharmacologic options for pain management. She has a special interest in medical acupuncture in pain management and treatment of mental health disorders.

Anjali Koka, MD is an pediatric anesthesiologist and pediatric pain medicine physician at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA. Clinically, she specializes in pediatric pain management, pain interventions, regional analgesia and perioperative pain management. She manages in-and outpatients with pediatric chronic pain conditions. She is the program director for the Pediatric Pain Medicine Fellowship at BCH and directs the inpatient pain treatment service.

Education: Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA B.A. 09/1975-05/1979 Psychobiology Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA M.D. 07/1979-06/1983 Medicine Tufts University Medical Center, Pediatrics 7/1983-06/86 Massachusetts General Hospital, Child Neurology. 7/1986-06/1989 Have worked in the fields of pediatric neurology, pain management, and headache since completion of fellowship, initially at Massachusetts General Hospital , the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, and now Boston Childrens Hospital as the director of the chronic headache program. Current research includes collaboration with Dr Scott Holmes and his team in Pain Imaging at BCH. We have used advanced neuroimaging and machine learning to assess network connectivity in chronic pediatric headache subtypes, including post-traumatic, migraine, and new daily persistent headache. Such studies may offer a more direct access to brain processing and treatment in headache disorders.

Dr. Lee is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine and the Emory Pediatric Institute. He is a board certified in Pediatric Anesthesiology and Pediatric Palliative Medicine. He has an interest in pediatric chronic pain medicine, pediatric regional anesthesia, global health, and in patient safety and quality improvement.

Galaxy Li is a pediatric anesthesiologist and chief of pain medicine at Nemours Children’s Health Jacksonville. His clinical and research interests span from pediatric acute to chronic pain to environmental sustainability in medicine. As a graduate of the University of North Carolina, he acquired his bachelor’s degrees with honors distinction in chemistry and piano performance. Li earned his medical degree at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He continued his training with two fellowships – pediatric anesthesiology with Emory University at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and pain medicine with Harvard Medical School at Children’s Hospital Boston. Dr. Li is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology with subspecialty certifications in pediatric anesthesiology and pain medicine. He serves on faculty at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, on the board of directors for the Society of Pediatric Pain Medicine, on the board of directors for the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Improvement Network, and as editor of SPPM Newsletter.

Carole Lin, MD, FAAP, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatric Anesthesiology at Stanford University and Director of Sustainability for Stanford’s Pediatric Anesthesiology Division. She leads multiple institutional and national initiatives to reduce healthcare waste and improve environmental responsibility, including the award-winning AWISH program (Addressing World Inequity via Sustainable Healthcare). Dr. Lin also serves in leadership roles within the California Society of Anesthesiologists, Open Anesthesiology, and the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine, where she advances multimedia medical education, global outreach, and innovative communication strategies across pediatric anesthesia.

Senior Associate in Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Children's Hospital Boston Associate Professor of Anaesthesia and Pediatrics Harvard Medical School

Melissa Masaracchia, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health and program director for the pediatric anesthesia fellowship at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. She obtained her medical degree at New York Medical College in 2011, completed residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in 2015 and went on to complete fellowship training both in adult regional anesthesia and acute pain management and in pediatric anesthesiology in 2016 and 2018, respectively. She serves on the editorial board for the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia’s Question of the Week Program and is a Vice Chair of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Pediatric SIG.

I am an assistant professor and the program director of the pediatric pain medicine fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Associate Professor of Anesthesia and Pain medicine, Cincinnati childrens hospital medical center (2008-2025) Assistant Professor of Anesthesia, St Louis childrens (1999-2007) Fellow, Seattle Childrens (1998-1999)

Wallis (Ty) Muhly, MD is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Dr. Muhly is interested in clinical outcomes research related to pediatric surgery and using quality improvement (QI) methodologies to improve outcomes following complex pediatric surgical procedures. This type of QI work has led to Dr. Muhly’s interest in Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) and how this method of organizing the perioperative experience can be used to improve outcomes in children.

Pediatric anesthesiologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Associate professor of anesthesiology at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. My work interests include regional anesthesia, point of care ultrasound, competency-based education curriculum development. I love gardening, baking, reading and spending time with my family. Please see the link for a complete bio including publications. https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/bio/n/suryakumar-narayanasamy

Melanie Noel, PhD, RPsych is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary and a Full Member of the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. She directs the PEAK (Pain Education, Advocacy, Knowledge) Research Laboratory within the Vi Riddell Pain & Rehabilitation Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Canada. Dr. Noel’s expertise is on children’s memories for pain and co-occurring mental health issues and pediatric chronic pain. She published guiding conceptual models of children’s pain memory development, co-occurring PTSD and chronic pain, and fear-avoidance. She has published over 225 papers in peer-reviewed journals (H index = 48). In recognition of her contributions to advancing knowledge of the psychological aspects of children’s pain, Dr. Noel received early career awards from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), the Canadian Pain Society, the American Pain Society, the Canadian Psychological Association, and the Society of Pediatric Psychology. She was named Avenue Magazine Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 (Class of 2017), a Killam Emerging Research Leader (2020), and holds the inaugural the Killam Memorial Emerging Leader Chair (2021-2026). In 2022, she was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. Dr. Noel is passionate about partnering with people with lived experience to transform how we understand and treat people with pain. She is an advocate for the use of developmentally tailored interventions for pediatric pain management and serves on committees to promote and implement evidence-based interventions within her children’s hospital and beyond. As an evidence lead on the Help Eliminate Pain in Kids and Adults team, Dr. Noel co-authored clinical practice guidelines for pain and fear management for vaccine injections. Many of these recommendations were adopted by the World Health Organization.

Stephanie Pan, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine and a pediatric and regional anesthesiologist at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. She is the Associate Clinical Director for the pediatric anesthesiology division at Stanford. She is a Local Mentor for the ASA Diagnostic POCUS Certificate Program and recipient of the ASRA Early-Stage Investigator Grant. Her clinical interests include methadone, pediatric regional anesthesia, pediatric POCUS, and pediatric orthopedic spine surgeries.

Sarah Pate PT, DPT is a physical therapist in the upstate of South Carolina with extensive experience treating children and adolescents with pelvic floor dysfunction. Upon graduation from the University of South Carolina Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2017, Sarah began her training in developmental pediatrics in the outpatient setting. This experience proved invaluable as it allowed for multidisciplinary collaboration and exposure to challenges children face from infancy to early adulthood including issues related to bowel and bladder dysfunction. Sarah assisted in developing one of the first pelvic floor programs specifically aimed to treat children and adolescents for a major hospital system. She opened PACE Pediatric Therapies in 2021 with the goals of continuing to serve patients through one on one direct care but also to grow awareness for pelvic floor issues in the community through workshops, in-services, and teacher trainings. She consults regularly with multiple specialty programs in the Upstate including Pediatric Pain Medicine, Pediatric Surgery Center for Colorectal Surgery, Pediatric Gastroenterology, and Pediatric Urology by developing protocols for the rehabilitation of diagnoses including Irritable Bowel Disease, Neurogenic Bowel and Bladder disorders such as Hirschsprung’s Disease, and Complex Constipation Clinic. While she experiences a strong sense of professional satisfaction from her work, there is nothing like the role of "Mom" to keep one humble, grounded, and present. She loves to garden and run with her dog Maddie. She loves cheering on her husband as he coaches high school lacrosse, watching her son's flag football team, and seeing her daughter dance (all the while toting around their 5 month old). She is the happiest when her hands are in the dirt and her people are around her.

Scott W. Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS is a pediatric psychologist, CCRF Endowed Chair, and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, he is Co-Director of the Headache Center and focuses on pharmacological, device, cognitive behavioral, and mind and body interventions for youth with migraine. As a clinician and clinical supervisor, he has provided behavioral interventions to patients and taught residents/fellows for over 30 years. As an investigator, he has been continuously supported by the NIH since 1996. Dr. Powers has over 225 publications, including trials in Headache, the New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA.

I was born in Lahore, Pakistan, where I attended medical school and graduated at the top of my class. I then moved to the United States for residency training, followed by a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology. My career has been dedicated to academic medicine, and I currently hold the rank of Professor at the Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Maywood, IL. Alongside my clinical work in pediatric anesthesia, I am deeply committed to teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. Over the years, I have also guided junior faculty by providing mock oral exams to help them prepare for the ABA examination process, aiding them in achieving this critical milestone. Outside of work, I cherish my time with my wife and our three children, aged 10, 12, and 14.

Dr. Sarah Restock, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at UT Southwestern Medical Center and serves as Medical Director for Innovation at Children’s Health. In this role, she supports institutional initiatives spanning quality improvement, innovation, information technology, and health equity. Dr. Rebstock earned her medical degree from Johannes Gutenberg Universität in Mainz, Germany, completed anesthesiology residency training at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine, and pursued a pediatric pain with Dr. David Sherry, MD at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Nationally recognized for her pioneering contributions to pediatric pain medicine, Dr. Rebstock founded pain programs at Penn State Children’s Hospital and developed an innovative chronic pain clinic at Children’s National Medical Center, where she served as Director of Pediatric Pain Medicine. Her work integrating simulation-based education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and emerging technologies, including virtual reality and gaming—into pediatric pain care has earned her national awards and media recognition. She has been successful at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as an associate Professor turning her gaming Innovation into a physical therapy element of standard of care at Children’s Health in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Reece-Nguyen is a board-certified general and pediatric anesthesiologist and Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford Children’s Hospital where he serves as a DEI leader in his department, throughout Stanford Medicine, and at the National level as Chair of the SPA-DEI committee, the Vice-Chair of the ASA LGBTQ+ Ad Hoc committee, and National Co-Director of the Perioperative Anesthesiology Registry for Transgender Adults and Youth (PARTAY) Collaborative. As a cisgender gay man, Dr. Reece-Nguyen understands the importance of LGBTQ+ advocacy work and the ever-increasing need for improved LGBTQ+ medical education, focusing specifically on the value of gender-affirming perioperative care. In his role as the Medical Director of the Gender Recognition and Affirmative Care through Education (GRACE) Team at Stanford Medicine and as the Director of LGBTQ+ Health for Stanford Anesthesiology Office of Diversity, Inclusivity, and Health Equity, Dr. Reece-Nguyen’s work promotes perioperative gender-affirming care education, quality improvement, and research efforts aimed at improving the healthcare experience and perioperative outcomes for all gender-diverse patients. He is proud to serve as Co-Director of the Perioperative Anesthesiology Registry for Transgender Adults and Youth (PARTAY) Collaborative, which is a multi-institution collaboration that evaluates practices and optimizes clinical practice guidelines for the perioperative care of TGD individuals undergoing both gender-affirming and non-gender-affirming surgeries and procedures. He is also passionate about increasing LGBTQ+ diversity, networking, and mentorship within anesthesiology and improving the capacity of all anesthesiologists to provide optimal care to the LGBTQ+ community.

Dr. Rico Mora was born in Venezuela and obtained his medical degree at Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado. He completed his anesthesiology residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and his pediatric anesthesia fellowship training at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He is currently an Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director of the pediatric anesthesia fellowship program at Children’s National Hospital. Dr. Rico Mora main professional interests are education, simulation and regional anesthesia. In his spare time, He enjoys travelling, going to concerts and playing the piano.

Dr. Rosales is the Clinical Psychology Director of the Division of Pain & Palliative Care and Co-Director of the Pain Rehabilitation Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Rosales’ research interests are centered in investigating and addressing pediatric health disparities including the impact of social determinants and adverse childhood experiences in treating pain. She uses a community-centered approach that recognizes the unique expertise of patients, families, and their communities, and promotes clinical and community collaborations to develop relevant and sustainable interventions. Webpage https://www.chla.org/profile/alvina-rosales-phd

I am Kesavan Sadacharam, a Clinical Associate Professor in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Nemours Children’s Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University. I completed my residency at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and my pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Currently, I serve as the Director of Regional Anesthesia at Nemours DuPont Hospital for Children and am the acting President of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia Improvement Network (SPAIN). My research interests focus on acute pain management, quality improvement to enhance patient outcomes, and patient blood management.

For the past 15 years, I have dedicated my career to the intersection of pediatrics anesthesiology, focusing on pediatric pain management and the holistic well-being of children. My passion lies in understanding the unique social and emotional dynamics that influence a child’s health and using this knowledge to develop compassionate, evidence-based approaches to alleviate pain and improve quality of life. By combining medical expertise with a deep commitment to understanding the societal factors impacting pediatric care, I strive to empower families and provide children with the support they need to thrive in challenging circumstances

Dr. Shah is Division Head of Pain Medicine at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. His areas of interest include regional anesthesia, acute, and chronic pain medicine, and medical education.

Dr. Kim Strupp is a pediatric anesthesiologist from Children’s Hospital Colorado, in Aurora, Colorado where she is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado. She completed her Residency in Anesthesiology in 2012 and Fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology in 2013 at the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic (Rochester), respectively. She is the Clinical Quality Director in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia with an interest in quality improvement and patient safety. Additionally, she is the Associate Vice Chair for the Quality and Safety Committee and Co-Chair of the Checklist Subcommittee for the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, as well as a member of the development team for the PediCrisis app. Some of Dr. Strupp’s most recent publications include using the PediCrisis app as a teaching assessment tool and implementation of a process to provide influenza vaccines under anesthesia.

Associate Professor , Director Pediatric regional anesthesia faculty fellowship program. Seattle Children's Hospital , Seattle , WA.

Pediatric pain medicine physician, pediatric anesthesiologist Medical Director, Functional Independence Restoration (FIRST) Program

Dr. Vecchione is an associate professor of pediatric anesthesiology and pain medicine at Johns Hopkins University. She completed an anesthesiology residency at Montefiore Medical Center in NY followed by a pediatric anesthesia fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital. She then completed a second fellowship in pediatric acute pain management and regional anesthesia at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is the director of the pediatric regional anesthesia and acute pain services as well as the infant spinal program. Dr. Vecchione has also recently started a pediatric transitional pain clinic. In addition, her team has received grant funding to start scrambler therapy for pediatric patients with neuropathic pain. Her research focuses on the role of regional anesthesia and multi-modal pain regimens in pediatric patients to reduce opioid consumption in an era of an opioid epidemic.

Dr Walia is an Associate Professor at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine and shares a joint appointment within the Departments of Anesthesia, Psychiatry and Pediatrics. She is board certified in Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Interventional Pain Medicine. Her primary academic interest is treating chronic pain in the pediatric population and is the Founder and Director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Pain Clinic where she combines use of her unique board certifications in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Pain Medicine. Besides that, she also provides clinical services in the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry inpatient unit and the Adult Chronic Pain Clinic. She strongly believes that pain control is best achieved by using a combination of therapies- The Multimodal Approach and tries to use that best in treating her patients.

Suellen Walker is Professor of Paediatric Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK, and Principal investigator of the Paediatric Pain Research Group. Her clinical activities include acute and chronic paediatric pain management, and her research interests include long-term effects of early life pain and injury, and neuropathic pain in children.

Pediatric anesthesiologist. Professor, Clinical Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology. University of Connecticut School of Medicine Research Interests: Acupuncture and related interventions for perioperative issues and pain

Leah Webb, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Anesthesiology and the Program Director for the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship at Children's Hospital Colorado affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Webb leads innovative simulation-based education initiatives, including the development and validation of a pediatric spine phantom used to teach and assess neuraxial ultrasound skills. She is an active contributor to several multidisciplinary teams, including the Anesthesiology Preoperative Clinic (APOC), and is committed to advancing safe, high-quality perioperative care for children.

Dr. Weisman is the Medical Director and Jane B. Pettit Chair in Pain Management at Children’s Wisconsin and Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Weisman is quadruple board certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Anesthesiology and Pediatric Anesthesiology. He has served on multiple pain guideline panels which have established pain management standards. In addition, he served on an expert panel for the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine to establish priorities for opioid prescribing. He is the past chair of the American Pain Society Special Interest Group on Pain in Infants, Children and Adolescents. He has served as a founding and Executive Committee member of PRN-Pain (Pediatric Research Network-Pain). He has been honored as a recipient of the Jeffrey Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children’s Pain Relief, American Pain Society. The Pain and Headache Center at Children’s Wisconsin provides a full range of pain-related services for children, including an intensive pain rehabilitation, the Integrated Healing Program, for children with functional disability due to pain or functional neurologic disorders.

Since my fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology at Boston Children's Hospital, I have had a strong interest in pediatric pain medicine as well as pediatric anesthesia, including regional blocks. I did a second fellowship at Boston Children's in Pain Medicine and stayed on the staff there until I was recruited to start the Pediatric Pain Service at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. My work at Mayo has been balanced between operative pediatric anesthesia and pediatric pain. This has led to my involvement in the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine, eventually having been president from 2021 to 2023.

Dr. Windsor is an acute and chronic pediatric pain specialist practicing in Greenville, SC. He completed his training in Pediatric and Pain Management at Boston Children's Hospital. He is board-certified in Pediatrics, Headache Medicine, and Medical Acupuncture. He is Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and adjunct faculty in Anesthesiology and Psychiatry at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. In 2018, he founded the Pediatric Pain program at Prisma Health, serving patients in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee.

Karla Wyatt-Thompson serves as the Director of Post-surgical pain and Regional Anesthesia at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. Her areas of focus include opioid sparing perioperative analgesia and imploring standardized pain care to reduce healthcare inequities.

Pediatric anesthesiologist at Children's Hospital Colorado